TN seek to maximise home advantage against Uttarakhand in Ranji Trophy

Tamil Nadu will face Uttarakhand at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in the second-round Ranji Trophy (Elite Group-D) fixture starting here on Sunday. The state side aims to make the most of home conditions as it returns to Chepauk.

Tamil Nadu last played at Chepauk in 2024 against Karnataka, a match that finished as a draw after the hosts, chasing 355, fell 17 runs short on the final day. The team opened its current campaign in Jaipur with a disappointing batting display that surrendered the first-innings advantage, leaving them with a solitary point. After restricting Rajasthan to 363, R. Sai Kishore's men collapsed from 203 for four to be dismissed for 274, and although three frontline batters recorded half-centuries, none converted those starts into a big score.

Two regulars, B. Sai Sudharsan and Washington Sundar, have departed for India-A duties, prompting likely changes to the playing eleven. R. Vimal Khumar is being considered to partner N. Jagadeesan at the top of the order, while S. Ajith Ram is also under consideration. Team management expect the red-soil surface at Chepauk to offer assistance to the tweakers as the match progresses, influencing selection decisions.

The batting concern from Jaipur—failing to build on 203 for four to reach a dominant total—remains a clear selection and tactical issue for the hosts. The absence of a big conversion from three half-centuries in that game is an area Tamil Nadu need to address before the Uttarakhand encounter. Bowlers who can exploit the strip’s characteristics will be pivotal if the home side is to press for a first-innings lead.

Uttarakhand arrive buoyed by their recent performance, having taken the first-innings lead over Railways in their previous match. The northern side reached the semifinals last year and are described as possessing a well-rounded squad with sufficient variety in their bowling attack to pose a challenge. That balance makes the tie at Chepauk a potentially competitive contest.

The Ranji Trophy (Elite Group-D) match between Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand begins on Sunday at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, with selection decisions and the pitch’s red-soil behaviour expected to shape both teams’ strategies.